The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
Siúil A Run
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
And every tear would turn a mill
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
And around the world I'll bake my bread
Until my parents shall wish me dead
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
But now my love has gone to France
To try his fortune to advance
If he e'er comes back 'tis but a chance
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
The Chieftains' Siúil A Rún is a traditional Irish song that has been interpreted and performed by many artists throughout the years. The lyrics describe a woman's longing for her love who has gone away, possibly to fight in a war or to seek his fortune. The opening lines express the woman's sorrow and longing, wishing to be on a hill where she can cry as many tears as she wants. The imagery of tears turning into a mill suggests the depth of her sadness and the feeling that her emotions are endless.
The second verse of the song describes how the woman is willing to give up everything she has, including her possessions, to buy her love a sword of steel. This speaks to the traditional gender roles in society where men were expected to be providers and protectors. The song then transitions into the chorus where the woman sings "siúil, siúil, siúil a rún" which means "walk, walk, walk my love" in Irish. The chorus suggests that the woman is looking for her love and is urging him to return to her.
The third verse describes the woman's determination to do whatever it takes to be with her love, even if it means dying her petticoats red or baking bread around the world. However, the final verse suggests that her love has gone to France to seek his fortune, leaving her behind. The final lines of the chorus convey the woman's wish that her love returns to her safely.
Line by Line Meaning
I would I were on yonder hill
I wish to be on that hill over there
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
I would sit and cry my heart out
And every tear would turn a mill
My tears would be so many, they could power a mill
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
Until we meet again, my darling
I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell all that I have
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
Even my most prized possession
To buy my love a sword of steel
To purchase a sword for my beloved
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Go, go, go, my secret love
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Walk with ease and walk quietly
Siuil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Walk to the door and run with me
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
Until we meet again, my darling
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
I'll change my appearance and symbolize passion with red dye
And around the world I'll bake my bread
I'll explore the world and make a living by baking bread
Until my parents shall wish me dead
I'll travel so far that my parents will think I'm dead
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
Until we meet again, my darling
But now my love has gone to France
My beloved has left for France
To try his fortune to advance
To seek his fortune and make progress in life
If he e'er comes back 'tis but a chance
If he returns, it will be a stroke of luck
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
Until we meet again, my darling
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Go, go, go, my secret love
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Walk with ease and walk quietly
Siuil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Walk to the door and run with me
Is go dté tu mo mhuirnín slán
Until we meet again, my darling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PADDY MOLONEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnwoulfe3118
I have no words to describe this woman in terms of her voice. She is simply the best of the best. I happen to know the Irish language and she hit this song out of the park. Magnificent!. 👍👍🇮🇪🍀🎵🎵🎵🎵
@jwilliam2255
Many Irish singers have done this song ... Sissel sings as beautifully as any that I've heard. Not for nothing is she called the Golden Voice of Norway.
@michaelbrand8279
A hauntingly beautiful song! RIP Paddy Moloney (1 Aug. 1938 - 12 Oct. 2021)! :'-(
@alaindiagre3270
Sissel can sing every song , but not any one . Once more , she's sublime .
@noriemeha
You talk riddling so. But I think you are right in what you say.
@noriemeha
Chieftains spotted a winner when they came across Sissel. She has the extraordinary modal voice for this music
@leonardhurley5761
This is a beautiful rendering of an old Irish ballad. Sissel, the Norwegian with the voice of an angel, sings it with a power to move the hardest heart.
@alaindiagre3270
stunningly beautiful Alain
@brb907
And here is the most beautiful to me from the collaboration with The Chieftains.
@leonardhurley5761
Sissel's beautiful voice only matched by the beauty of the sentiments of this wonderful song. The Chieftains and Sissel form an outstanding combination. As far as I know Sissel has never had a concert in Ireland. Why not ? Norway has a great jewel with a unique voice. I would not be surprised to learn that she has a Celtic soul or could it be just a little Celtic DNA.